The Kimbell Art Museum building was designed by the famous architect Louis Isadore Kahn. Now it is a significant architectural monument. Its first exhibition was the private collection of Kay and Velma Kimbell, a married couple who dedicated their lives to both the industrial Empire and art.
The history of this collection begins in 1931 when Kay Kimbell became the owner of his first painting. It's only been four years since he and his wife started the Kimbell Art Foundation. He was collecting priceless pieces of art all his life. So by the time of his death the collection had the best works of such masters as Reynolds and Gainsborough. Besides, Kay Kimbell bequeathed the lion's share of his fortune to the construction of the best art museum. The director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Richard Fargo Brown, was appointed construction manager. It was decided to build a museum in the bohemian district. There were already two major museums in Fort Worth. The construction manager of the museum also contributed to the collection: he acquired several amazing works by El Greco, Rubens, and Rembrandt. Unfortunately, Richard Fargo Brown never got to see his creation. After his death, Edmund Ted P. Pillsbury became the manager. He wanted to increase the size of the museum. However, after receiving a rejection from the foundation’s fund, he found another solution. So in 2013, another building under the Kimbell Art Museum was built by the Italian architect Renzo Piano.
The collection of paintings is not so numerous: there are only about 350 paintings. However, they are masterpieces. There are works by Carracci and Caravaggio, Poussin and Velásquez, Cézanne and Monet, Matisse and Picasso, as well as the immortal creation of Michelangelo - the “Torment of St. Anthony”.
Museum exhibits are constantly changing, as they are part of the educational program of some universities. Besides, there is a scientific library, which has about 60 thousand books and auction catalogs of particular interest to art lovers.